Summary: Your victory is already proclaimed you just have to go through the process. Don’t worry it’s already done.

1st Kings 17:1-9 “And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan. And it shall be, [that] thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which [belongeth] to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee’.

Focus Verses: 4 & 9.

Focus Phrase “I have commanded…”

Opening:- The Bible is amazing. Every time you read it God reveals something new to you. You can read the same passage over and over again and always find something new that you did not realize before. In these 9 verses there is a wonderful systematic revelation that is manifested here. I pray that I am able to convey it to you the way God revealed it to me.

Vs#1 – Elijah’s introduction, Elijah’s anointing, God’s challenge.

Vs#2 – God’s word to Elijah

Vs#3 – God’s instruction to Elijah

Vs#4 – God’s command

Vs#5 – Elijah’s submission

Vs#6 – God’s miracle for Elijah

Vs#7 – Elijah’s provision removed

Vs#8 – God’s word to Elijah for a new beginning

Vs#9 – God’s command

** If any of these elements are were taken out then this part of His-story would not be.**

Let me build this message with a good foundation:- In order to do that we must go back to the 16th chapter. In chapter 16 we are introduced to a king by the name of Ahab. Ahab was the king of Israel for 22 years. He reigned as King of Israel from approximately 874 B.C. to 853 B.C.

In those 22 years the Bible says “He did more evil than all the kings before him” therefore he is the worst king Israel ever had. He purposely provoked God. Although he seen the ruin of the wicked kings and their families before him he didn’t take it as a warning or a lesson to be learned, but he hardened his heart and became enraged against God. He thought it a light thing to walk in the ways of Jeroboam, who didn’t have a problem with idol worship. Ahab even went as far as to marry the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians whose name was Jezebel. After marring Jezebel he brought idol worship back into the Children of Israel. He built an altar for Baal. He built a temple for Baal in Samaria for him and the people to worship close to home this violated several laws of God. God commanded that they travel to the place He had put His name to worship and that was Jerusalem. He made a grove about this temple to conceal the abominable impurities that were performed in the filthy worship of Baal. As the leader and ruler of God’s chosen people he caused the Children of Israel to sin.

Exodus 20:3-4 the 1st & 2nd commandments state “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” “Thou shalt not make unto any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”.

Ahab disregarded the Word of the Lord and caused Israel to disobey God and pervert themselves and worship Baal. He is the worst king to ever rule Israel.

THE WORSHIP OF BAAL: - was very perverted. The worship ceremonies consisted of orgies and human sacrifices. Often times in these groves the trees had carving in them of so-called gods (totems). The people would have these orgies as a form of worship. Also because of these orgies that happened as a part of their perverted worship there would be a lot of unwanted pregnancies. These children that were born from these worship practices were offered up as human sacrifices to Baal. This is totally against God in a number of ways.

Also understand and this is VERY IMPORTANT:- that Baal was believed to be the sun god and he controlled the weather as well as the god of fertility. So they people believed that when they heard thunder that Baal was speaking to them and letting them know that he was going to bless them. The rain that fell was believed to be the blessing that Baal was sending on them, this rain was the blessing of fertility so many orgies and sexual escapades were done in the rain. So remember the rain was considered the blessings form Baal.